but you will see them at work, and then you will judge."

'The old dame made a signal, and the ten dwarfs rushed forward. Charlotte saw them perform, in turn, the roughest and most delicate kinds of work: they were pliant, skilful, and able to accomplish everything. Astonished, she gave a loud cry of joy, and, stretching her arms out to the fairy: "Ah, Mother Greenwater," she cried, "lend me these ten brave workers, and I will ask nothing more!"

"I will do more than that,” replied the fairy, "I will give them to you; only as you cannot carry them about with you for fear people should accuse you of witchcraft, I will order them to make themselves small, and hide in your ten fingers."

'When this was done : "Now, you know what a treasure you possess," said Dame Greenwater; "but all will depend on the use you make of it. If you do not govern your little servants; if you leave them idle, they will be of no profit to you; keep them well in order, lest they go to sleep; never leave your fingers quiet, and the work you are so frightened at will be done as if by magic."

The fairy had spoken the truth, and our grandmother, who followed her advice, succeeded not only in putting the whole farm on a better footing, but in laying by something for herself, which, when she was happily married, helped her to bring up her eight children in comfort and honesty. Since this time there is a tradition that Dame Greenwater's labourers have descended to all the women of our family, and that if they bestir themselves ever so little, the little workmen are put in action to our great profit; and we have a saying among ourselves, that it is

to the wife's ten fingers we owe all the prosperity, all the joy, and all the comfort in the house.'

As he said these last words, Goodman Prudence turned towards Martha. The young wife blushed, cast down her eyes, and picked up her distaff.

William and his cousin exchanged a glance.

All the family silently reflected on the story. Each tried to understand its full meaning, and to apply it to himself; but the pretty farmer's wife understood that it was really addressed to her, for her face brightened, her wheel turned fast, and the flax on the distaff grew less and less.

THE RED-CROSS KNIGHT.

1.

The warder* looked from his tower on high,
As far as he could see :

'I see a bold knight, and by his red cross,
He comes from the East country.'

2.

Then down the lord of the castle came,

The Red-Cross Knight to meet,

And when the Red-Cross Knight he espied,

Right loving he did him greet.

3.

'Thou 'rt welcome here, dear Red-Cross Knight,
For thy fame's well known to me;

And the mass shall be sung, and the bells shall be rung,
And we'll feast right merrily.

* The sentinel on his watch-tower.

4.

'Oh! I am come from the Holy Land,
Where saints did live and die;
Behold the device I bear on my shield-
The Red-Cross Knight am I!

5.

'And we have fought in the Holy Land,

And we've won the victory;

For with valiant might did the Christians fight, And made the proud Pagans flee.'

6.

'Thou 'rt welcome here, dear Red-Cross Knight; Come, lay thy armour by;

And for the good tidings thou dost bring,
We'll feast us merrily.'

7.

'Oh! I cannot stay,' cried the Red-Cross Knight, 'But must go to my own country

Where manors and castles will be my reward,
And all for my bravery.'

8.

'Oh! say not so, thou Red-Cross Knight,

But if you will bide with me,

With manors so wide, and castles beside,
I'll honour thy bravery.'

9.

'I cannot stay,' cried the Red-Cross Knight,
'Nor can I bide with thee,

But I must haste to my king and his knights,
Who are waiting to feast with me.'

10.

'Oh! say not so, thou Red-Cross Knight,

But if you will stay with me,

With feast and with dance, with tourney* and lance,

We'll honour thy bravery.'

11.

'I cannot stay,' cried the Red-Cross Knight,

'Nor can I feast with thee;

But I must haste to a pleasant bower,t
Where a lady's waiting for me.'

12.

'Oh! say not so, dear Red-Cross Knight,
Nor heed that fond lady;

For she can't compare to my daughter fair,
And she shall wed with thee.'

13.

And now the lute's sweet silver sound

Re-echoed through the hall,

And in that lord's fair daughter came,
With her ladies clad in pall.

14.

The lady was decked in costly robes,
And shone as bright as day;

And with courtesy sweet the knight she did greet,
And presséd him to stay.

15.

'Right welcome, brave Sir Red-Cross Knight,

Right welcome unto me;

And here long time I hope thou 'lt stay,

And bear us company.

* Tournament.

+ Boudoir, lady's drawing-room. A fine robe, from Lat. pallium, ‘a cloak.'

16.

'It grieves me much, thou lady fair,
That here I cannot stay;

For a beauteous lady is waiting for me,
Whom I've not seen many a day.'

17.

And as the lady pressed the knight,
With her attendants all,

Oh! then bespake a pilgrim youth,

As he stood in the hall :

18.

'Now, Heaven thee save, good Red-Cross Knight, I'm come from the north country,

Where a lady is laid all in her sick-bed,

And evermore calls for thee.'

19.

'Alas! alas! thou pilgrim-boy,
Sad news thou tellest me;
Now I must ride full hastily,
To comfort that dear lady.'

20.

'Oh! heed her not,' the lady cried,

'But send a page to see,

While the mass is sung, and the bells are rung, And we feast us merrily.'

21.

Again bespake the pilgrim-boy,

'Ye need not send to see;

For know, Sir Knight, that lady's dead,

And died for love of thee.'